The former Aston Villa academy product is reportedly set to join the Union for a fee involving GAM, not cash
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Union reportedly acquire USMNT's Vassilev from CITYMidfielder to join Eastern Conference foesFee to be allocation money, not cashGet the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowWHAT HAPPENED?
St. Louis CITY SC has reportedly traded U.S. international Indiana Vassilev to the Philadelphia Union for an unnamed amount of Allocation Money. The fee involved will not be a part of the MLS Cash for Players system.
Vassilev made his USMNT debut this past January against Venezuela, and prior to playing for CITY, was a member of Inter Miami's roster before being traded to St. Louis.
At the youth level, he as an academy member of English Premier League side Aston Villa.
The Union are now coached by Bradley Carnell, whom managed Vassilev at CITY before his 2024 dismissal from the club.
was the first to report the news.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE
In 2024, Vassilev started 23 matches for CITY, scoring three goals and recording four assists. A high-pressing midfielder, Vassilev will replace the outgoing Jack McGlynn, who joined the Houston Dynamo earlier this offseason for a reported fee of around $2M.
Carnell is reunited with a former player, and Vassilev gets a move where he will likely be a locked-in starter while staying in the Eastern Conference.
DID YOU KNOW?
Vassilev made his pro debut with Villa in the 2020 FA Cup at 18-years-old, and then followed it with four first-team appearances in the 2019-20 Premier League season. During the 2020-21 season he was loaned to both Burton Albion (League One) and Cheltenham Town (League Two), making 24 appearances between the clubs.
Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR VASSILEV?
The Union begin their 2025 MLS season Saturday against Orlando City, while CITY take on the Colorado Rapids.
